Thorpe could be fit in no time, says Mr Endurance

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Grant Hackett believes that despite a lack of training, Ian
Thorpe can make the team for this year's world championships.

With the selection trials just four weeks away, and Thorpe
seemingly spending more time travelling the world than following
the black line, there has been speculation he will skip the trials
and have a year free of competition. "I haven't spoken to him for a
while," Hackett said. "I'm not sure what he's doing. Obviously he's
not training much ... he's probably doing a few laps here and
there.

"We had dinner ... in early January and he looks fit. He hasn't
put on any extra weight, so I think once he does get back into it,
he'll get fit pretty quickly from the huge background from the many
years of training which he's got under his belt.

"If he wants to do it [compete at the trials], I think he
possibly could. Whether he does or whether he thinks it's the best
thing for his career - missing it now is going to be good for
Beijing - it's up to him."